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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The 19-person grand jury is selected from the different supervisorial districts in proportion to the population of each district.
The Grand Jury serves as the public’s “watchdog” by investigating and reporting upon the affairs of local government.
The term of service runs from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, and may entail from 10 to 20 hours of work per week attending committee and general meetings, responding to citizens’ complaints, performing research, and investigating the operations of governmental agencies and allegations of wrongdoing by public officials or employees.
The Court is looking for applicants in good health who are interested in community affairs, are objective, and are able to work cooperatively with others. Experience in researching, interviewing, writing and editing, and/or auditing is desirable and having a general knowledge of the responsibilities and functions of governmental and other public entities is helpful.
A grand juror must be a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older, speak English, be a resident of California and Lake County for at least one year prior to selection, and not hold an elected office or have any felony convictions.
Applications may be obtained by mailing a letter with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Grand Jury Coordinator, 255 N. Forbes, Fourth Floor, Lakeport, CA 95453. Applications are also available at each Superior Court Clerk’s Office; located at 255 N. Forbes, 4th Floor, in Lakeport, or at 7000 A South Center Drive, in Clearlake.
Further information may be obtained by calling the Grand Jury Coordinator at 263-2282. Applications must be received by May 30. Personal interviews will be scheduled prior to final selection.
If you are interested, please apply. If you are not interested, but know someone who may be, please let them know of this opportunity.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
The Andy Johnson Memorial Skate Park had its grand reopening Saturday, following its repairs late last year.
The park was packed with teens, smaller children, parents and even a few dogs who came along for the fun.
Michele Bush, a skate park committee member whose son Ricky spent a good part of the day airborne on his BMX bike, called the day's turnout “awesome.”
Although it's been reopened since late January, Saturday was the day to celebrate the effort by the skate park committee and community members to get the park repaired.
It also was a time to make official the park's new name, in honor of skateboarder and BMX rider Andy Johnson. The 18-year-old died April 14, 2006, while on the way from his home in Eureka to visit a skate park in Portland, Ore. The City Council approved the park naming in January.
Ken Savin, another adult member of the skate park committee, said BMX riders, skateboarders, scooter riders and inline skaters participated, some coming from Lakeport, Kelseyville, Middletown – even as far away as Ukiah – to take part.
Four City Council members – Curt Giambruno, Chuck Leonard, Joyce Overton and Judy Thein – came to the 11:15 a.m. dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.
Giambruno and Leonard, who stayed until early afternoon to watch the action, remarked that they were glad to see more riders using helmets and safety equipment, which has been a concern because of possible liability.
Last Thursday, the council approved skate park safety enforcement rules to ensure that safety equipment is used and that bikes and skateboards use the park on alternative days, although the two groups were riding together Saturday.
According to the requirements, if the alternate day riding rules aren't followed or helmets and pads aren't being used it will result in closures of the park for a day per violation.
Savin said new signs were posted Friday morning at the park's entrance, clearly outlining the rules and consequences of not following them.
The event also featured a raffle and booth selling T-shirts and other gear to benefit the park. Anyone wishing to donate can call Michele or Ricky Bush at 295-5754. Visit the park's Web site at http://bmxskateboardpark.wikispaces.com.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Heron Festival is in its 14th year and since its founding, by the Redbud Audubon Society, the event has grown to become one of Northern California’s most popular nature festivals. The festival is held at the Clear Lake State Park on Soda Bay Road near Kelseyville. Pontoon boat tours on Clear Lake are a popular feature of the festival, but a huge variety of other activities and programs are offered.
Boat tours are held on both days and last for approximately 90 minutes. Advanced reservations are required for the boat tours. This may be accomplished by going to the Heron Festival website at www.heronfestival.org. Price for a boat ride is just $15 per person.
Other activities on Saturday include an Audubon Bird Walk starting at 8:30 a.m., the popular Wildflower Brunch from 9 a.m. until noon, a “Nature Fair,” which features exhibit booths highlighting education displays and information from nature-related government agencies, local environmental nonprofit groups, and nature-related artists and craftsmen.
Keynote speaker on Saturday is Philip Greene, an internationally know photographer of herons and egrets. His presentation will be presented at the Visitor Center Auditorium at the park. There will also be Visitor Center tours of the interpretive displays of Lake County’s natural and cultural resources.
Children’s activities will consist of a wide range of fun educational programs for children to learn about nature, including owl masks, peanut butter birdseed feeders to take home, and making a personalized bird journal. A family nature walk is also planned.
Pontoon boat tours continue on Sunday along with more bird walks, the nature fair, a presentation by Dr. Harry Lyons on Myths and Music of Clear Lake, and at 1 p.m. a live bird presentation, “Raptor Speak,” by Native Bird Connections, that will give visitors the opportunity to see raptor behavior up close.
All events except the pontoon boat tours and the Wildflower Brunch are free and open to the public. Registration for both the boat tours and the brunch are required and can be made by going to the festival website or by calling the Lake County Visitor Center1-800-525-3743. The Web site also features the full schedule of events for the two day Heron Festival at Clear Lake State Park.
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- Details
- Written by: Lake County News Reports
For my first review I will refer to “The Happy Garden.” But first, for the sake of complete honesty I will mention that many of the staff of “The Happy Garden” are neighbors of mine. I don’t see them around the neighborhood very much because they are at the restaurant most of the time, so it’s not like we’re close personal friends, but in the interest of integrity I thought that I should mention my passing acquaintance with them.
The Happy Garden is located in Clearlake Oaks, right on Highway 20. In all honesty, when it first opened I didn’t think it would be around very long. The Mexican restaurant that previously occupied the building was almost always empty and was in business for a very short time.
Here I am years later, very happy at being mistaken. The parking lot of the Happy Garden always has vehicles in it and at dinner times it over flows. The Happy Garden serves Chinese and Thai cuisine, and obviously I am not the only one who thinks the food is fantastic.
I almost always order from the Thai menu. If you aren’t familiar with Thai food, I plead with you to try it. It is like no other cuisine of Asia. Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand and was created as a way to save the country’s rice supplies during wartime. It’s full of a little bit of everything, rice noodles, peanuts, vegetables, tofu, bean sprouts, and huge shrimp, just to name a few ingredients, and it’s something that I never get tired of.
That’s not to say that the Chinese side of the menu is lacking in any way. Mu Shu Pork is one of my favorite dishes of all time. You get several Chinese crepes (request an extra order of these “Chinese pancakes,” you’ll need them), the Mu Shu Pork filling (also available in vegetable, chicken, shrimp or beef varieties), and some Hoisin sauce (Hoisin sauce is best described as a Chinese barbecue sauce, dark and sweet, not spicy at all). You spread some of the filling and the sauce on the crepe, roll it up and eat like a taquito or taco.
If you don’t mind caffeine, you should try the “Thai Iced Tea.” I believe it’s made with a Lapsang Souchong type tea, a very dark, cola-colored, smoky-flavored tea which has a thick layer of half and half floating on top. I’m supposed to avoid caffeine by doctor’s orders, but I simply can’t pass up that tea!
I have never had a bad meal at The Happy Garden, although I have ordered things that were so spicy that they turned my blood to magma. One day while eating the “Chao Talay” Seafood Hot Pot, my face was sweating like Dick Cheney on his next quail hunting trip. My dinner companion asked if it was good, and I said, “I love it, but it would outright KILL you!” If you like spicy foods, this is the place to go.
The Happy Garden staff is always friendly and efficient. Errors in orders are so rare that I don’t even check through my order when I do take out. The food is quickly prepared so if I order over the phone it’s usually waiting for me by the time I get to the restaurant.
The owner of the Happy Garden also now owns The Harbor in Nice. That restaurant specializes in Chinese and American cuisine so that restaurant will be covered in a different review. The Happy Garden can easily claim to be one of the best places to eat in Lake County, and our community is richer for it being in the neighborhood.
Ross A. Christensen is an award-winning gardener and gourmet cook. He is the author of "Sushi A to Z, The Ultimate Guide" and is currently working on a new book. He has been a public speaker for many years and enjoys being involved in the community.
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